Dade County’s Board of Commissioners have a new found May 31st deadline to submit a letter of interest to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which could ultimately change the future trajectory of Lookout Creek, back to how nature originally intended.
Wednesday afternoon’s specially called meeting of the board was primarily for passage of the reworked fire protection and rescue services agreement with the county’s 7 volunteer fire departments, as well as an agreement for Dade County to underwrite the insurance premiums of fire-fighting equipment owned by the respective agencies.
Both motions passed unanimously with little or no discussion from members. County Attorney Robin Rogers rewrote the agreement at the behest of the department Fire Chiefs, who requested greater clarity on first response requirements and certifications of volunteer fire-fighters.
The remainder and majority of Wednesday’s meeting centered on the prospect of improving water quality of Lookout Creek and possibly restoring the waterway’s original path from a 1955 relocation.
Steve Bontekoe from Limestone Valley RC & D alerted the board to the plausibility of applying for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ in lieu of fee mitigation plan.
Bontekoe foresaw if Dade County was to participate in the federal;y managed environmental credits program, they could apply for as much as $12 to 20 million dollars in available funds, at no cost to the local government agency.
Bontekoe says addressing the 32 acre creek parcel on Sells Lane would be the primary objective. He says he’d like to see the creek restored to its pre-1955 configuration before it was dredged and moved to its current locale. Bontekoe also suggested slips for personal watercraft could be constructed into the creekbank for greater recreational use.
Commissioner Melissa Bradford says she liked improving the immediate intake source for Dade’s drinking water supply, suggesting it would assist in water quality before it arrived at the treatment plant.
Bontekoe concluded his presentation that the board could begin the exploratory process by submitting a letter of interest, but must do so by May 31st.
Before adjourning, the board voted to tender a memorandum of understanding with Alabama Land Trust and the U.S. Army Corps for an exploratory discussion on Lookout Creek restoration, before the next regularly scheduled meeting set for May 1st.
By Vince Lennon
Watch the Meeting Below